The 2013-14 audit report does not paint a rosy picture of the financial position of the Margao civic body. In fact, the audit report was categorically clear in saying that collection of various taxes was very low, around 37.01 per cent to be precise. Though the procedure for recovery of any amount due to the Municipal Council is clearly stipulated under sections 144-151 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, the audit said no action is taken by the council, with the result that arrears continue to mount every year. The audit has recommended that the matter may be brought to the notice of the higher authorities for action and comments.
The audit has also slammed the Civic body for loss of revenue due to non-assessment of house tax. While reminding the Council that assessment of property in the municipal areas should be done not less than once in four years, the audit noted that the Council have not taken any effort to revise the assessment of the house tax, causing a huge loss to the Council.
The civic body also came under the scanner of the audit on tax collection from municipal properties. In fact, the audit made it point blank clear to the civic body that collection of rent from municipal property has been poor, pegged at only 26.67 per cent. The audit has recommended necessary action to recover the outstanding rent by issuing demand notice and to refer the cases to the revenue recovery court if the need arise.
Incidentally, the audit could not ascertain the financial aspect of the Council on account of the non cooperative of the Civic staff. “The Council has not even bothered to reply the half margin memos issued during the audit. Some of the important information has also not been furnished to the audit. The council has not prepared and furnished to audit important information such as administrative report, assets and liabilities details etc”, the report said.
